Figure 1: A young Tasmanian Devil in a calm mood, shown by it's pink ears and stance
Unlike herbivorous marsupials such as koalas, possums, kangaroos and wombats The Tasmanian Devil (Sarcophilus harrisii) is the worlds largest surviving carnivorous marsupial, the devil by early settlers because of its eerie screeches and ferocious teeth. The Tasmanian Devil body size is comparable to a small dog however it can range depending on diet and habitat. Fully grown male Tasmanian Devils are about 30 cm high at the shoulder and can weigh up to 10-12 kg. Females are slightly smaller than males. They are covered thick black fur that often has white patches on the chest and tail. Devils powerful jaws allow prey to be killed and devoured, bones and fur included.
Taxonomy:
Kingdom
Animalia
Phylum
Chordata
Class
Mammalia
Order
Dasyuromorphia
Family
Dasyuridae
Genus
Sarcophilus
Species
Sarcophilus harrisi
Diagram:
Figure 2: Labelled Diagram of a Tasmanian Devils Features
Habitat:
Figure 3: Distribution (Tasmanian Devil) Tasmania
600 years ago Tasmanian Devils roamed across all parts of Australia, however it is believed that due to introduction of the Dingo (competing for the same food sources and hunting Tasmanian Devils as their prey) that the Tasmanian Devils numbers declined to extinction on the main land. Now (like the name suggests) Tasmanian Devils can only be found on the island and state of Tasmania, an area of 64,030 km.
Tasmanian Devils widespread around Tasmania, they can be found in cold and wet areas, like the mountains, or the warm and dry coastal areas of Tasmania. Tasmanian Devils live anywhere in Sclerophyll forests or mixed rainforests where the devils can make shelters out of hollow logs, old wombats burrows or caves during the day and find adequate food at night.
Devils ‘home range’ is shared with other devils and can extend over 20 square km with up to 3 different dens, the devils are solitary animals will usually travel alone throughout the home range at night for food, however they can share a carcass.
Figure 4: Agrivated Tasmanian Devil (Screetching)
Physical Description: Tasmanian Devils are about the size of a small dog, they are black with a white “collar” around its neck and on its shoulders. Their build is solid and thick set, with short legs, a furry tail and claws. Their broad heads are relatively large for their bodies; their strong jaws hold sharp teeth designed for tearing apart the flesh of their prey. Tasmanian devils range in size according to gender, male Tasmanian Devils are 30cm high at the shoulder and weigh 10-12 kg, while female Tasmanian Devils are 25cm tall at the shoulder and weigh 8-10kg.
Adaptations:
Behavioral: 1.Nocturnal Tasmanian Devils are nocturnal animals; they leave their den at dusk to go hunting around their home range on set tracks. Tasmanian devils have a strong of smell and excellent hearing, which is useful for a nocturnal animal to possess as their vision is limited. Their black fur camouflages their bodies during the night providing extra protection against predators. This would have been developed when the Tasmanian Devils still roamed the mainland and were hunted by Dingo’s and Indigenous Australians, however in Tasmania there are no Dingo’s and Tasmanian Devils are a protected species. 2. Aggressiveness Tasmanian Devils have an aggressive nature, not only towards their prey but to each other too. They are solitary animals and when it comes to food, Devil’s are very protective and will even kill another of their kind, but mostly they can share a carcass. Their aggressive behavior comes from years of being hunted by Dingo’s, Indigenous Australians and Early settlers who believed they tasted like veil. Structural: 1.Teeth and Jaws
Figure 5: Skull of a Tasmanian Devil
The Tasmanian devil has a large mouth with crowded teeth; this makes the mouth seem crammed and appears to be more powerful. The canines of the Tasmanian devil are large and short yet incredibly strong, in the evolution of the devil these canines have been selected to tear off the meat from a carcass. The incisors at the top of the Tasmanian Devils mouth are long compared to the size most dogs incisors, however they are shorter than their own canines, the incisors can make a decent bite however they are not as effective as the canines. The first 3 of 4 molars have a triangular shape; through natural selection these molars benefit the Tasmanian Devil by crushing its food. This includes fur, meat, thick skin and bones – the devils leave nothing to waste, which shows they contribute to Tasmania’s ecosystem as cleaner uppers. There is no good measurement to say how strong a Tasmanian devils bite is. It is believed that devils have biting power as strong as a dog 4 times its weight. A 40kg dog has the same jaw strength as a 10kg Tasmanian Devil. The teeth and Jaws work together. 2.Claws and Legs At a young age Tasmanian Devils are able to climb trees, this is because they are not yet fully-grown and their short leg as and sharp claws can carry their weight up a tree. This structural adaptation helps protect young Tasmanian Devils from older Devils, who will (if desperate and hungry enough) a young one. Their front legs are slightly longer then their hind legs, combining their for legs and claws they can scrape wood, dirt other shrub floor foliage out of the way to make their dens. Tasmanian Devils legs maybe small but they are useful as in one night of scavenging for food they can travel 10-12 km. This shows that their legs can hold their bodies weight and carry them over long distances, therefore through evolution the Tasmanian Devil legs have been altered so the young can escape being eaten, so they can make their dens where they live and carry them over long distances through the night. They can run as fast as hyenas. Physiological: 1. Odor Release as defense. When Tasmanian are stressed or frightened they will release a pungent, foul odor into the air to scare off the intruder, they also release this odor when in a fight with another devil, or in another stressful situation. This odor is not poisonous, and will not do much harm if breathed in. The devil also cannot control this release; only in pure distress will this foul smell fill the air. Tasmanian Devils normally do not smell so terrible, unless they have just eaten a carcass. The environmental pressure that gave rise to this odor release trait is the hunting of Tasmanian Devils when they we’re still hunted for food by Dingo’s and humans.
Figure 6: A Tasmanian Devil with Facial Cancer
Facial Cancer: Tasmanian Devils are currently endangered as the Tasmanian Devil facial cancer has developed. This cancer grows a number of tumors around the devil’s face and deforms the devil. Currently there are actions being taken to isolate the healthy Tasmanian Devils from any infected ones, as this is a genetic disease. There is no cure for this deforming facial cancer.
Tasmanian Devil
Unlike herbivorous marsupials such as koalas, possums, kangaroos and wombats The Tasmanian Devil (Sarcophilus harrisii) is the worlds largest surviving carnivorous marsupial, the devil by early settlers because of its eerie screeches and ferocious teeth. The Tasmanian Devil body size is comparable to a small dog however it can range depending on diet and habitat. Fully grown male Tasmanian Devils are about 30 cm high at the shoulder and can weigh up to 10-12 kg. Females are slightly smaller than males. They are covered thick black fur that often has white patches on the chest and tail. Devils powerful jaws allow prey to be killed and devoured, bones and fur included.
Taxonomy:
Diagram:
Habitat:
600 years ago Tasmanian Devils roamed across all parts of Australia, however it is believed that due to introduction of the Dingo (competing for the same food sources and hunting Tasmanian Devils as their prey) that the Tasmanian Devils numbers declined to extinction on the main land. Now (like the name suggests) Tasmanian Devils can only be found on the island and state of Tasmania, an area of 64,030 km.
Tasmanian Devils widespread around Tasmania, they can be found in cold and wet areas, like the mountains, or the warm and dry coastal areas of Tasmania. Tasmanian Devils live anywhere in Sclerophyll forests or mixed rainforests where the devils can make shelters out of hollow logs, old wombats burrows or caves during the day and find adequate food at night.
Devils ‘home range’ is shared with other devils and can extend over 20 square km with up to 3 different dens, the devils are solitary animals will usually travel alone throughout the home range at night for food, however they can share a carcass.
Tasmanian Devils are about the size of a small dog, they are black with a white “collar” around its neck and on its shoulders. Their build is solid and thick set, with short legs, a furry tail and claws. Their broad heads are relatively large for their bodies; their strong jaws hold sharp teeth designed for tearing apart the flesh of their prey. Tasmanian devils range in size according to gender, male Tasmanian Devils are 30cm high at the shoulder and weigh 10-12 kg, while female Tasmanian Devils are 25cm tall at the shoulder and weigh 8-10kg.
Adaptations:
Behavioral:
1.Nocturnal
Tasmanian Devils are nocturnal animals; they leave their den at dusk to go hunting around their home range on set tracks. Tasmanian devils have a strong of smell and excellent hearing, which is useful for a nocturnal animal to possess as their vision is limited. Their black fur camouflages their bodies during the night providing extra protection against predators. This would have been developed when the Tasmanian Devils still roamed the mainland and were hunted by Dingo’s and Indigenous Australians, however in Tasmania there are no Dingo’s and Tasmanian Devils are a protected species.
2. Aggressiveness
Tasmanian Devils have an aggressive nature, not only towards their prey but to each other too. They are solitary animals and when it comes to food, Devil’s are very protective and will even kill another of their kind, but mostly they can share a carcass. Their aggressive behavior comes from years of being hunted by Dingo’s, Indigenous Australians and Early settlers who believed they tasted like veil.
Structural:
1.Teeth and Jaws
The Tasmanian devil has a large mouth with crowded teeth; this makes the mouth seem crammed and appears to be more powerful. The canines of the Tasmanian devil are large and short yet incredibly strong, in the evolution of the devil these canines have been selected to tear off the meat from a carcass. The incisors at the top of the Tasmanian Devils mouth are long compared to the size most dogs incisors, however they are shorter than their own canines, the incisors can make a decent bite however they are not as effective as the canines. The first 3 of 4 molars have a triangular shape; through natural selection these molars benefit the Tasmanian Devil by crushing its food. This includes fur, meat, thick skin and bones – the devils leave nothing to waste, which shows they contribute to Tasmania’s ecosystem as cleaner uppers. There is no good measurement to say how strong a Tasmanian devils bite is. It is believed that devils have biting power as strong as a dog 4 times its weight. A 40kg dog has the same jaw strength as a 10kg Tasmanian Devil. The teeth and Jaws work together.
2.Claws and Legs
At a young age Tasmanian Devils are able to climb trees, this is because they are not yet fully-grown and their short leg as and sharp claws can carry their weight up a tree. This structural adaptation helps protect young Tasmanian Devils from older Devils, who will (if desperate and hungry enough) a young one. Their front legs are slightly longer then their hind legs, combining their for legs and claws they can scrape wood, dirt other shrub floor foliage out of the way to make their dens. Tasmanian Devils legs maybe small but they are useful as in one night of scavenging for food they can travel 10-12 km. This shows that their legs can hold their bodies weight and carry them over long distances, therefore through evolution the Tasmanian Devil legs have been altered so the young can escape being eaten, so they can make their dens where they live and carry them over long distances through the night. They can run as fast as hyenas.
Physiological:
1. Odor Release as defense.
When Tasmanian are stressed or frightened they will release a pungent, foul odor into the air to scare off the intruder, they also release this odor when in a fight with another devil, or in another stressful situation. This odor is not poisonous, and will not do much harm if breathed in. The devil also cannot control this release; only in pure distress will this foul smell fill the air. Tasmanian Devils normally do not smell so terrible, unless they have just eaten a carcass. The environmental pressure that gave rise to this odor release trait is the hunting of Tasmanian Devils when they we’re still hunted for food by Dingo’s and humans.
Tasmanian Devils are currently endangered as the Tasmanian Devil facial cancer has developed. This cancer grows a number of tumors around the devil’s face and deforms the devil. Currently there are actions being taken to isolate the healthy Tasmanian Devils from any infected ones, as this is a genetic disease. There is no cure for this deforming facial cancer.
Bibliography: